Before asking you to support Solidarity Yaad as it recovers, rebuilds, and plans for the future in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl in Jamaica, I want to share a brief history.
As early as 1958, scientists began documenting and warning world leaders about global warming. In 1965, President Johnson called pollution "one of the most pervasive problems of our society." Despite over 60 years of scientific and community data, today, the US leads the world in greenhouse gas emissions. Why? Because an insidious global campaign by the PR firm founded by E Bruce Harrison used their vast influence to keep us confused and complacent about the irrefutable climate change science data. This disproportionate burden the United States has on climate change is not only experienced by residents, but our neighboring countries and islands as well.
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As a soon-to-be returning resident, I have been eager to develop relationships with established communities back home. I had the honor of connecting with Afia Walking Tree, founder and principal steward of Solidarity Yaad, in the days following Hurricane Beryl. Solidarity Yaad is one of two innovative land-based brave spaces in Jamaica supporting women, LGBTQI+ and gender expansive people. This intentional community and farm offers immediate access to a private sanctuary for refuge, rest, renewal, contemplation, and reunification, nurturing a community founded upon the principles of reclaiming and honoring each other's well-being.
Afia shared with me that all storage structures and many trees on the farm have been downed. As a completely community-supported farm, they were in the process of acquiring a neighboring property with a clean water source and an existing house to better store their equipment, house team members, host events and produce agriproducts from their farm. Unfortunately, when Beryl hit, all farming supplies being stored under tents now destroyed, were damaged. Bathroom and storage buildings were destroyed by the winds and they had severe water damage to essential gear and tools. Worse still, there are team members in the midst of medical emergencies, most likely rooted in long-term chemical fertilizer use, exacerbated by Beryl related activities. Solidarity Yaad is not alone as the Minister of Agriculture has reported that Beryl caused severe damage to the island's agriculture industry.
Please help Solidarity Yaad farm reach their Hurricane Beryl Recovery goal of $7,500. Here are some of the most urgent needs that your gift will address:
* Build emergency storage shed materials and labor
* Replace food and destroyed gear
* Living expenses (for residents who are unable to stay on the farm at the moment)
* Farm clean up, restoration, and tree planting
* Transportation (support to purchase a reliable vehicle or taxi fares to/from farm)
* Physical and psycho-social support for those still experiencing trauma
I am inviting you to support Solidarity Yaad resiliently recover from Hurricane Beryl and prepare for a hurricane season expected to be more active and dangerous than previous years due to climate change. In return, you will become a part of a community of donors committed to transforming our world together by acknowledging our interconnectedness through our shared environment, centering the needs of the most vulnerable community residents as the true measure of progress, reviving ancestral land stewardship practices, and investing in critical infrastructure for long-term climate change resiliency.
OPTION I: SEND YOUR GIFT DIRECTLY to Solidarity Yaad (not tax deductible). While not tax deductible, SENDING YOUR GIFT DIRECTLY ensures immediate community access.
* PLEASE ADD: BERYL RELIEF in your message.
* Please consider adding 3.9% to your donation as PayPal automatically deducts this processing fee from your gift.
OPTION II: SEND YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT through Solidarity Yaad’s fiscal sponsor today. PLEASE ADD: BERYL RELIEF in your message.
* US-based fiscal sponsor: Meadows Livingstone School Non-Profit Status Document and Fiscal Sponsor Agreement
* PLEASE ADD: BERYL RELIEF in your message.
* Please consider adding 3.9% to your donation as PayPal automatically deducts this processing fee from your gift.
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